Research, Evaluation and Learning

Since our inception, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has been driven by a continuous cycle of research, evaluation and learning.

BUILDING THE EVIDENCE

In connection with our focus areas, we fund a range of types of research to expand our understanding of what most shapes health, and which types of interventions may have greatest potential for impact.

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RWJF Research Programs

RWJF’s four signature research programs are examining the impact of different types of programs, policies and health-related systems on health, equity and well-being.

In connection with all of our major grantmaking areas, we fund third-party evaluations assessing the impact of our funding, and sharing lessons learned. We use these evaluations to help refine our current grant programs, and inform our future grantmaking.

In addition to traditional evaluations, we closely monitor changes happening in specific systems at a national and local level which relate to our grant programs and assess the impact they may have, enabling us to make adjustments as needed in real time.

On an annual basis, we publish an organizational assessment report which serves as an essential resource for continually measuring and improving upon the impact of our programs, and relationships with our grantees around areas of shared interest.

In addition to findings from our program evaluations, we continually publish an array of lessons learned from our grantmaking and long-term investments—so that in addition to guiding our work, others may also gain insights from both our successes and failures.